Pacquiao-Marquez IV is ESPN's Fight of the Year

Expectations were low entering the fourth Manny Pacquiao versus Juan Manuel Marquez bout. It was a match that many felt was a retread, a repeat match-up that not a lot of fans had clamored for.

What boxing enthusiasts got was an epic battle that climaxed in a shocker, especially for fans of the Filipino ring icon, which led to ESPN.com naming it their Fight of the Year.

ESPN.com boxing columnist Dan Rafael wrote of the bout, which took place last December 8 (December 9, PHL time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, "It offered a festive and raucous atmosphere, thrilling two-way action, multiple knockdowns, blood and one of the most significant and violent knockouts in history as Filipino icon Pacquiao -- the all-time great eight-division champion and former pound-for-pound No. 1 -- went down face-first with one second left in the sixth round."

Earlier in the month, ESPN had also chosen Marquez's KO of Pacquiao as the knockout of the year.

Other candidates for the award were Brandon Rios versus Mike Alvarado, Filipino Brian Viloria versus Hernan "Tyson" Marquez, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Miguel Cotto, among others. - AMD/HS, GMA News